Process of discharging smelter gases



April 21, 1925.

W. H. HOWARD PROCESS OF DISGHARGING SMELTER GASE S Filed Jan. 4, 192.

, IN VE N TOR A TTORNEY Patented Apr. 21, 1935,

llhllhlfi STATES FATENT UFFIQE.

VETELIEZIAM ENG AND E-EFINING CGMPANY, JERSEY.

H. ROW/"ARE, 6F SALT LAKE EITY, UTAH, A$SIGNOB TO AMERICAN OF NEKH YGRK,Y., A CQ'RPORATION 01 NEN PROCESS OF DISCHARGING SHELTER GASES.

Application filed January 4, 1923. Serial No. 610,552.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that 1, WILLIAM H. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State ofUtah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes ofDischarging Smelter Gases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for controlling the discharge ofobnoxious gases from chemical and metallurgical plants, sucu as furnacesand smelters, into the air in order to prevent damage therefrom in thevicinity of the plant from which ill the gases are discharged.

It is well known that smelter gases re sulting from the treatment ofcertain ores frequently contain noxious elements, and extensivelitigation has resulted in the past from failure or inability toneutralize these gases or control the discharge of the same. Usuallythese gases carry sulphur dioxide which is very distructive tovegetation, and son'ietimes the gases carry lead and arsenic, both ofwhich are injurious to animal life.

in Patent No. 1, i22,575, granted to me under date of July 11, U522, lhave set forth and claim d broadly a method of increasing the velocityof the gases containing obnoxious elements so they will ascend incolu1nnar shape high above the top of the stack and then spread outgradually in mushroom shape and be thoroughly diluted before coming incontact with vegetation.

This improvement relates to means for heating the gases from the smelteror meallurgical furnace before they are dis charged from the chimney orstack so as to increase the volume and the velocity of the discharginggases without appreciably or materially increasing the weight thereof,for the double purpose of forcing the discharging gases high into theair and also increasing the draft of the furnace.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in partobvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and in part willbe more fully set forth in the following particular description of oneform of apparatus embodying my invention, and the invention alsoconsists in certain new and novel features of construction andcombination of parts hereinafter so forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a diagrammatic view of achimney or stack connected with a metallurgical furnace or apparatussupplied with heating meansfor carrying out my improved process.

Figure 2 is a corresponding view, showing a different application of theheating means,

Referring to the drawings, the stack A is provided at some suitablelocation below the discharge end of the s'tacl: with one or more heatersor burners 13. Preferably oil burners are used, although if desiredburners of any other type may be employed that will heat the gasesrapidly. When necessary, because of lack of oxygen in the gases, air issupplied in quantity sufficient to support combustion of the oil orother fuel that may be used through air supply pipe (4. 'lhe oil issupplied to the burners from any suitable supply through pipe 6. Theburners may be placed either in the stack or in the flue C adjacent thebase of the stack. arranged so that the flame therefrom will he directedapproximately parallel with the axis of the conduit or stack and withthe path of movement of the discharging gases,

thereby to accelerate the flow of the gases without producing retardingagitation thereof. One or more burners may be used, depending on thevolume of gases di charged, and these burners may be spaced around theinterior of the stack approximately in one horizontal plane, asindicated, or in a series of such planes, or they may be arranged inrows one above the other, since the particular location of the burnersin the stack is not important, provided they are suiliciently removedfrom the discharge opening to permit proper heating of the gases and tocause an acceleration of the rate of ilow of the gases through the stackor conduit before they are discharged.

Suitable means may be provided, such as the valves D, to regulate theamount of fuel and of air supplied to the burners, since the characterof the gases leaving the furnace and the atn'iospheric conditions mayvary, and the use of any auxiliary means for heating the gases maybecome unnecessary for greater or less periods of time.

With the burners ignited under normal operating conditions and withabsence of wind or atmospheric disturbance of any kind the gases will becarried into the air to a height which can be determined and controlledto an appreciable extent, and they will spread out in a mushroomformation as the column of heated gases gradually loses its velocity dueto loss of heat. Even with a high wind the discharging gases can beforced to rise to great heights, although in such case,-owing to themovement of the air, a more rapid diffusion takes place and a greatheight for the discharging column is not necessary.

By the use of the burners in the manner described an increase ofvelocity and volume of the gases is secured without any correspondingincrease in the weight of the gases, provided the combustion takes placewith the oxygen already contained in the gases. If it is necessary tointroduce air to support combustion, then only the Weight of theintroduced air and oil isadded to the total weight of the gases. Theheating is accomplished by a plurality of units, permitting economy inoperation as well as ample control, since the number of burners orheating means in operation at any given time can be regulated accordingto the character of the discharging gases and the atmosphericconditions.

lVhile I have shown and described and have pointed out in the annexedclaims certain novel features of my invention it will be understood thatvarious omissions, subbination with a stack or chimney, of a pluralityof burnersspaced around the interior of the stack or chimney and locateda sntiieient distance below the top of said stack or chimney to permitan increase in the velocity of the gases prior to their discl'iarge.

2. In an apparatus for discharging smelter gases high into the air todiffuse the obnoxious elements thereof before the same come into contactwith vegetation, the combination with a stack or chimney, of a pluralityofburners located below the discharge end thereof to permit anacceleration in the rate of flow of the gases before their dis chargefrom the stack, said burners being arranged so that the flame therefromwill be directed approximately parallel with the axis of the stack ofthe discharging gases and in the direction of flow of the gases.

Signed atv Salt Lake City, in the count of Salt Lake and State of Utah,this 20th day of December, A. D. 1922.

WILLIAM H. HONARD.

